Big horses roar into Loveland

Big Thunder Draft Horse Show comes to The Ranch Jan. 17-19

The Big Thunder Draft Horse Show returns to The Ranch in Loveland Friday-Sunday, Jan. 17-19, with performances at the Ranch-Way Feeds Indoor Arena.
(Special to Go)

Get ready for some impressive horsepower. It's time again for the Big Thunder Draft Horse Show at Ranch-Way Feeds Indoor Arena at The Ranch in Loveland. Mosey on over for the 10th annual weekend of big horses and big fun Friday, Jan. 17, through Sunday, Jan. 19.

Competitors from as far away as Canada and as close as Northern Colorado will present a variety of majestic horses, including Clydesdales, Belgians, Shires and Percherons. Long ago, these horses were used for coast-to-coast transportation and grueling labor in the fields. In modern-day draft horse shows, they display their incredible strength while likewise performing in an unexpectedly elegant fashion.

Tickets: $12 for adults, $6 for children (2-12 years), and $10 for seniors (60-plus).

Info: Budweiser Events Center box office, 877-544-8499.

But what exactly is a draft horse show?

It's an event that shows off the style, skill, patience and performance of horses. The Big Thunder Draft Horse Show is split into four class descriptions. The single cart, or stud cart, class stems from when one horse cart toted a stallion to multiple ranches in order to service mares. Judging for this event looks at both the confirmation of the horse and its manner of movement. It should have a "good, snappy trot and carry its head up, looking alert," explains the Big Thunder website.

Tandem hitch class involves two horses hitched together as a tandem team, one in front of the other. Previously used when individuals needed double horsepower on roads too narrow for two side-by-side equines, in draft horse shows the tandem hitch is expected to feature a horse team "well matched in its manner of going," with the smaller lead horse keeping the traces tight but not with the appearance that it's pulling the whole load.

The unicorn hitch was previously used when one team of horses required the strength of an additional horse to pull an especially heavy load or dislodge a cart stuck in mud, thus the name "unicorn." Judges of this class expect a stylish and well-mannered lead horse that remains ahead of the other horses without appearing to pull the full load.

Lastly, the two-four-six-eight-horse hitch class mimics the past tradition of hauling with day wagons. Additional teams of horses were added as more strength was required. Judges look particularly close at the manner of going in this class, expecting the horses to work well together, each pulling equally.

Unfortunately, all of this judging is subjective.

"The bad thing is there's no rulebook for our business. There's one man's opinion. It's not run by a stopwatch," said Travis Shaw driver for the team owned by Ames Construction and based in Jordan, Minn. "We're judged on turnout, how well the horses work together, how well they pair up, the animation ... There's so many variables in the whole deal."

In addition to the show itself, guests also have the opportunity to visit the gentle giants an hour before the show begins as they're readied for their performances.

"There isn't an experience like this anywhere," show event director Abby Powell noted in a press release. "Patrons have an opportunity to watch as the horses are harnessed and prepped for the show. The amount of detail is incredible to see."

Shaw believes that the barns are definitely worth seeing.

"The barns in Loveland are just awesome: open, good air, hardly any dust, nice and bright. We usually go out there sometimes two weeks early and stay out there. It's good hospitality," he said.